Feed-wire connecter



N. J. A. WAHLBERG FEED WIRE CONNECTBR Filed May 2, 1919 9 H q i -7 J 7 J a WITNESSES: INVENTOR /V//S J A Wa/z/bery ATTORNEY permanent connection to a conductor, that Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

PATENT orrm..

NILS J. A. wannnnae, or r r rsnureleit, HOUSE sworn-1c & MANUFACTURING VANIA.

FEED-WIRE Application filed May 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'NILS J. A. VVAHLBERG, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented. a new and useful Improvement in Feed-Wire Connecters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical connecters and particularly to connectors for tapping main-line or trolley conductors.

One object of my invention is to provide a device of the above indicated character that shall be simple and durable in construction and effective in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portable connect-er, for temporary, or

shall be readily operable by hand, without the aid of instruments or tools.

Heretofore, to the best of my knowledge it has been usual, in tapping conductors adapted for relatively-high-voltage or heavy current. service, to employ connecters' requiring the use of instruments or tools for mounting them.

One adaptation of such connecters has been in coal mines, for use in connection with coal-working machines, where facility of OP? erations is desirable.

Screw-threaded, and otherwise-complicated, connecters, requiring the use of tools, are subject to deterioration by moisture and other causes and may cause inconvenience and loss of time when the tools therefor are lost or misplaced.

In practicing my invention, 1 provide a portable connecter, comprising simple and durable members that are not likely to quickly become affected by wear, moisture or rough usage, and that may be easily operated by hand without the aid of separate instruments or tools of any kind.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a plan view of a connecter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a View taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

In general, my device comprises a pair of clamping jaws or ears 1 for engagement with, and that conform to, a usual figure 8 trolley conductor 2 but that may be adapted to conductors of other forms, an intermediate clamping or wedging member rn NsftvaNm, ass stin r0 wnsrina COMPANY, A ooeroaarioN or PENNSYL CONNEGTER.

1919. semi No; 294,306.

3, an operating handle 4.- and, an auxiliary conductor 5. j I j The members 1 and 3 (so-operate similarly to membersshown in Patent No. 931,390 for a trol'ley clamp granted to the lVestinghouse Elec. & Mfg C0,, Aug. 17,1909, upon an aaplication filed by Harry P. Davis, and are provided with sloping portions or lugs 6 that are embraced by co-operating lugs 7 on the member 3. A projection 8 of the member 3 extends betweenthe upper portions of the ears 1 to a position between a pair of side cam portions 9 of a member 10. A cotter pin 11 extends transversely throughthe portions 9 and the projection 8 and serves as a pivot about which the member 10 is adapted to turn. As best shown in Fig. 2, the portions 9 are eccentrically related to the pin 11 and bear against the outer edges 12 of the'ears 1. A terminalmember13, for the reception of the auxiliary conductor 5, is secured between the member 10 and the operating handle 1 by a screw bolt 14 that extends through the members 10. and 13 longitudinally into the handle member 4.

In the position shown in the drawings, the ears ltightly grip the conductor 2 by reason of the fact that the greatest radii of the portions 9extend fromthe pin 11 tothe nearest points on the edges 12, thereby compelling the lugs 7 to grip the lugs 6 to hold the ears 1 together.

When the handle member 4: is moved away fro-m the conductor 2, about its pivot, the decreasing radii of the portions 9 between the pin 11 and the edges 12 permits the mem- I ber 3 to move toward the conductor 2 to release the lugs 7 from the lugs 6. This permits the ears 1 to be detached from the corn ductor 2. l

The arrangement provides a simple and effective means for tapping a conductor at any point, is portable and, being operable by hand without the aid of instruments or tools of any kind, prevents the inconvenience and loss of time sometimes occasioned by the loss of these implements.

While I have shown and described a particular form of my invention, changes may be effected therein, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a clamp, the combination with a pair of complementary jaw members having surfaces which engage the corresponding insaid jaw members.

clined surfaces of said jaw members, of a handle member pivoted to said block and having a cam portion for engagement with 3. In a clamp, the combination with a pair of complementary jaw members having substantially fiat inclined surfaces and a clamping block having similarly inclined surfaces which engage the corresponding in clined surfaces of said jaw members, of a handle member'eccentrically pivoted to said block and having a' portion for engagement v with said jaw members.

4; In a clamp, the combination with a pair of complementary aw members having inclined outer surfaces, and a clamping member having portions embracing said jaw members and engaging said inclined surfaces, of means comprising a handle member pivotally associated with the clamping member for wedging said clamping member against the inclined surfaces of said jaw 5; In ajclamp', the combination witha pair of complementary jaw members having inclined outer surfaces, and a clamping memmembers. 7 r

her having portions embracing said jaw members'and engaging said inclined surfaces, of means comprising a cam member for adjusting said block against said inclined surfaces.

6. In a' clamp, the combination with a pair of complementary jaw members having inclined outer surfaces, and a clamping mem' her having portions embracing said jaw members and engaging said inclined. surfaces, of means comprising a pivoted eccen tric cam member for adjusting said block against said inclined surfaces.

7 In a clamp, the combination with a pair of co-operating jaw members one of which has a substantially flat inclined outer surface, and a clamping member having portions embracing said j aw members, one portion of said clamping member engaging said inclined surface, of means comprising a handle member pivotally associated with the clamping member for wedging said clamping member.

8. In a trolley clamp, the combination with a plurality of jaw members, of means for wedging one member toward another and means for camming said first means into an operative position.

9. In a trolley clamp, the combination with a plurality of jaw members, of a block for wedging said members one toward another, and means for camming said bloc] into its operative position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of March, 1919.

NILS J. A. VVAI-ILBERG. 

